HeartKids is proud to stand alongside Miracle Babies Foundation, The University of Melbourne, and fellow Neonatal Critical Care Alliance partners in advocating for extended Paid Parental Leave for families whose babies require long hospital stays after birth.
Families navigating neonatal and cardiac care face immense emotional, practical, and financial challenges during these early months. When a baby needs ongoing hospital treatment, often far from home, parents are forced to balance work responsibilities, financial pressures, and the constant worry for their child’s wellbeing. Access to adequate leave is vital to ensure parents can focus on their child’s care and recovery.
A united call for change
The Neonatal Critical Care Alliance, led by Miracle Babies Foundation and The University of Melbourne, brings together HeartKids, Tresillian Family Care Centres, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and Birth Trauma Australia to advocate for increased support for Australia’s most vulnerable babies and families.
In November, the Alliance will host a Roundtable in Canberra, calling for an extension to Paid Parental Leave for parents whose babies spend more than two weeks in neonatal or critical care. The Roundtable will highlight family experiences and research evidence showing how the current system leaves many parents without sufficient paid time to care for their baby in hospital. A Working Group of MPs will be formed to help drive this change and improve outcomes for families across Australia.
The proposal
The proposed change would allow primary carers access to one week of additional paid parental leave for each week their baby remains in hospital (up to 14 weeks), and secondary carers an additional one to two weeks depending on the length of stay. Research from the University of Melbourne shows that this policy would deliver significant long-term benefits for family wellbeing and workforce participation at a cost of less than one per cent of the 2026–27 budget allocation.
You can read more about the proposal and evidence here:
A Fair Start: Extend Paid Parental Leave – University of Melbourne
Add your support
HeartKids joins this national call to ensure parents of premature and critically ill babies have the time, care, and stability they need during this crucial period.
Organisations and employers across Australia are invited to stand with us and be named in the Register of Support presented at the Canberra Roundtable.
Add your organisation’s support here.
Together, we can help create a fairer, more compassionate system for families whose babies begin life in neonatal or cardiac care.
